Best Budget Laptops
Smart picks that deliver the most bang for your buck.
6 laptops ranked79 avg scoreUpdated 2024–2025
Scores aggregated from NotebookCheck, Tom's Guide, LaptopMag, RTINGS, and PCMag. Overall score is a weighted composite across performance, display, battery, value, and build quality.
Acer Swift Go 14 (2025)
~$699 MSRP
85/ 100
The Swift Go 14 (2025) is a budget buyer's dream — OLED, 16GB RAM, 12-hour battery, Core Ultra 5, all under $700.
CPU Intel Core Ultra 5 226VRAM 16GB LPDDR5xDisplay 14" OLED 1920×1200 90HzWeight 1.35 kg (2.98 lbs)
Acer Aspire 15 (2025)
~$549 MSRP
80/ 100
The Aspire 15 (2025) is the reliable everyday workhorse for tight budgets — nothing flashy, but the Ryzen 5 8500U keeps it snappy for web, office, and streaming.
CPU AMD Ryzen 5 8500URAM 8GB DDR5Display 15.6" IPS 1920×1080 60HzWeight 1.74 kg (3.84 lbs)
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2025)
~$449 MSRP
79/ 100
The Chromebook Plus 515 is the pick for Google ecosystem lovers on a budget — long battery, big screen, and ChromeOS keeps it fast and secure indefinitely.
CPU Intel Core i3-1315URAM 8GB LPDDR4xDisplay 15.6" IPS 1920×1080 60HzWeight 1.9 kg (4.19 lbs)
ASUS Vivobook 16 (2025)
~$549 MSRP
78/ 100
The Vivobook 16 is a solid, no-drama budget laptop — the big 16:10 screen is a standout feature at this price for anyone doing productivity work.
CPU AMD Ryzen 5 8500URAM 8GB DDR5Display 16" IPS 1920×1200 60HzWeight 1.88 kg (4.14 lbs)
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (2025)
~$499 MSRP
75/ 100
Lenovo's budget IdeaPad delivers exactly what it promises — simple, reliable daily computing at the lowest price. Great first laptop.
CPU Intel Core i5-1334URAM 8GB DDR4Display 15.6" TN 1920×1080 60HzWeight 1.62 kg (3.57 lbs)
HP Laptop 15 (2025)
~$429 MSRP
74/ 100
HP's budget 15 is the bare bones option — best for ultra-tight budgets who need a laptop for basic tasks and nothing more.
CPU AMD Ryzen 5 7520URAM 8GB DDR5Display 15.6" IPS 1920×1080 60HzWeight 1.75 kg (3.86 lbs)
